Counterclockwise: searching for the meaning of max, mini, pro, plus and other such names

19 May 2019
Does "max" mean that the phone has a large battery, large screen or both? What about "plus" or "pro", how big are those?

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Its more gimmicks these days when anything else, if you just decide phone features just by looking at its name, my friend you will be in big trouble :)

    A major reason for the decline in minis is obviously the decline in the availability of options from the OEMs. In the last few years, most of the OEM has completely removed the minis/ handy devices form their portfolios, with 6" becoming the base. The only options with top end specs in a somewhat handy form factor currently seems to be the coming from the likes of only Samsung (say S8/S9/S10e) and Google (Pixel 1/2/3).

      • ?
      • Anonymous
      • x1y
      • 21 May 2019

      Anonymous, 20 May 2019If they're too tall for you, I don't think you can ever get... moreI don't mind. A phone is just a tool. If new tools are uncomfortable to use for me, I'd stick to the old one.

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        • six_tymes
        • kvH
        • 20 May 2019

        buzz phrases always started by liberals. I am partially one. big pharma, big oil... etc.. then it get used and applied to tech, BIG DATA

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          • Anonymous
          • n5S
          • 20 May 2019

          Anonymous, 20 May 2019Nah, Sony's compacts are not really my thing. They are good... moreIf they're too tall for you, I don't think you can ever get a new phone lol

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            • Anonymous
            • x1y
            • 20 May 2019

            Anonymous, 20 May 2019You could always use a Sony XZ1 compact or XZ2 compactNah, Sony's compacts are not really my thing. They are good, but... too tall and so on.

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              • Anonymous
              • n5S
              • 20 May 2019

              Anonymous, 19 May 2019I completely agree. I have to use a phone from 2013 because... moreYou could always use a Sony XZ1 compact or XZ2 compact

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                • AnonD-731363
                • SH3
                • 20 May 2019

                Oh man gimme a break-

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                  • Anonymous
                  • Qch
                  • 20 May 2019

                  Anonymous, 19 May 2019I completely agree. I have to use a phone from 2013 because... moreThe HTC Desire aka Nexus One is still my favorite Android.

                    "Note" has always been misleading. Outside of Samsung, almost all other notes were without stylus. LG phones with stylus didn't have "Note" in their names. Redmi Note series is more like a max/plus version of regular Redmi models.

                    Then there are phones like these:
                    https://www.gsmarena.com/xiaomi_redmi_note_7_pro-9521.php
                    https://www.gsmarena.com/coolpad_note_3_plus-8270.php
                    https://www.gsmarena.com/asus_zenfone_max_pro_(m2)_zb631kl-9410.php
                    https://www.gsmarena.com/meizu_pro_7_plus-8791.php
                    https://www.gsmarena.com/asus_zenfone_max_plus_(m2)_zb634kl-9634.php

                    They lost direction somewhere while naming. I get the point about differentiation between regular and premium models but piling suffixes is not a solution. Finally this abuse of nomenclature:
                    https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_grand_prime_plus-8385.php

                    I like Sony's nomenclature. It has its problems but its models doesn't have too many suffixes. Apple's and Nokia's(new ones) nomenclature are uninspired but to the point. You can simply say 7 Plus, 5.1,8.1,8 plus,XR and the listener knows which model you are refering.

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                      • Anonymous
                      • x1y
                      • 20 May 2019

                      Anonymous, 19 May 2019Wow what phone is that?I'm kind of a strange fellow... it's Lumia 620. I rarely use social media, so no big problem here.Email, notes, camera, music, videos, simple games like pinball, telegram and some other things - it just works.

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                        • Anonymous
                        • DRY
                        • 20 May 2019

                        Mini phone now is a size of pro years later.

                          That massive spike on "Max" battery capacity tho
                          Loved this article, puts things into prespective, but then again all these names seem uninspired af

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                            • Galaxy infinity
                            • U{W
                            • 20 May 2019

                            And then there's an weird ThinQ , BLU Vivo OnePlus (there's a phone with this name out there) etc..,

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                              • Anonymous
                              • Q5x
                              • 19 May 2019

                              Plus: Bigger screen and more cameras usually.
                              Pro: Flagship version of the model, more features, cameras, storage, etc.
                              Note: Usually a stylus version.
                              Lite: Budget variant that is supposed to look like the normal model.
                              Mini: Small version, some has weaker processor and ram, but some don't (those models i don't see them nowdays)
                              Max: Larger screen/battery.
                              Play: A even more budget friendly and with more colors.
                              Neo: A slower processor and worse screen, but same phone.
                              ---Examples: Galaxy S10+ - P30 Pro - Galaxy Note9 - P30 Lite - Galaxy S5 mini - iPhone XS Max - Honor Play - Galaxy Grand Neo.

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                                • Anonymous
                                • Nj0
                                • 19 May 2019

                                CompactPhones5ever, 19 May 2019I can't even express in words how much this pisses me off..... moreLite does not mean smaller

                                  You forgot to mention ultra in this list....

                                    I couldn't tell any correlation between this article and its cover, though.

                                    Seems like the author took that picture only because it has "Big" word in it.

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                                      • Dometalican
                                      • B45
                                      • 19 May 2019

                                      Shovels everywhere, 19 May 2019Apparently, nowadays "Compact" means a 7 inch extra long sh... moreYou know what's crazy? Google (even with their crazy prices) can literally put a dent in the compact market by releasing a 5" Pixel 4. The Pixel phones have never been for gaming or major multimedia outside of music so they have no need to make a non-XL device larger than 5.3". Imagine, a 5" phone with 3,200 mAH battery, 1080p OLED panel, front-facing stereo speakers, headphone jack, IP67, wireless charging, dual cameras in the front and back, eSIM with the Nano SIM being able to read Nano Memory card, and 6GB RAM/128GB ROM. Dude, I would be PSYCHED for a phone like that.

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                                        • Dometalican
                                        • B45
                                        • 19 May 2019

                                        Luxor, 19 May 2019Just based on my personal understanding: (Don't be that gu... moreDude, that was spot on actually. Kudos. lol.

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